O.C. Kills Chance for Anti-Obesity Grant in 'Obamacare' Snub

Urging the U.S. government to go on a spending diet, Orange County officials turned down a shot at $10 million in federal funds to combat obesity.

The gesture was purely symbolic—the healthcare grant will still go toward healthcare initiatives – just not in Orange County.

"I am opposed to it," said County Supervisor Shawn Nelson when he first learned of the program last week. "It appears to be a kind of nanny-state Obamacare program."

County Supervisor John Moorlach said he didn't want "to encourage the federal government to spend money it doesn't have." Especially when anti-obesity messages are widely disseminated by the media at no cost, he said.

“Grow up, and let’s address the real issues instead of feel-good nonsense. There has got to be some financial sanity,” Moorlach said by phone after the vote. “Am I tilting at windmills?" he continued. "Perhaps, perhaps.”

Moorlach said he would rather “stand on principle” than be the deficit enabler of a federal financial train wreck.

Two other members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors disagreed, arguing it was foolish to reject the grant proposal in a county where 60 percent of residents are overweight or obese (and ).

"It's about preventive care," Supervisor Janet Nguyen said at Tuesday's board meeting, adding that failure to educate people could cost more in the long run. "We're looking at $800 million in avoidable healthcare costs annually."

The grant would have come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is awarding $102 million to 75 community programs to cover quitting smoking, active living, healthful eating and prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Health Care Agency asked county leaders for permission to apply for $10 million of that money to be spent on campaigns promoting healthy foods, exercise and school physical fitness--as well as anti-smoking messages.

Supervisor Pat Bates opposed the grant, saying it would duplicate existing educational programs: "You can't pick up a pack of cigarettes that doesn't have a picture on it."

With Supervisor Nelson absent during the vote, the proposal died for lack of majority support, as Bates and Moorlach voted against the grant application, and Nguyen and Bill Campbell in favor.

Moorlach said anyone who doesn't like the decision could get some exercise by coming down to his office and protesting.